Let no one regard you with contempt because of your youth, but serve as an example to the believers in your speech and conduct, in your love, your faith, and your purity. | Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. |
The entire community of believers was united in heart and soul. No one claimed any of his possessions as his own, for everything was held in common. | All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. |
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The brother who is in modest circumstances should take pride in being raised up. Likewise, the one who is rich should glory in being brought low, for he will disappear like a flower of the field. | Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. |
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, ‘Streams of living water shall flow from within him.’ | Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ |
Rather, revere Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be prepared to offer an explanation to anyone who asks you to justify the hope that is in you. However, do so with gentleness and respect. | Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. |
Therefore, let us cease passing judgment on one another, but rather judge never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. | So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. |
If your brother wrongs you, go and take up the matter with him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. | If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. |
If someone says, “I love God,” but at the same time hates his brother, he is a liar. For whoever does not love the brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. | If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? |
If your brother should sin, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day, and comes back to you seven times to say, ‘I am sorry,’ you must forgive him. | If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. |
Brethren, if anyone is detected committing a transgression, you who are spiritual must set him right in a spirit of gentleness. Meanwhile, you should take care so that you yourselves are not tempted. | Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. |
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so too do we believe that God will bring forth with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. | For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. |
You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble. | You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. |
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. | Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. |
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in him already stands condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. | There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. |
Then Jesus said to him, “You have come to believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” | Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” |
Jesus then said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” | Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” |
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. | And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment. |
This is the commandment we have received from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. | And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. |
Jesus replied, “This is the work of God: to believe in the one whom he has sent.” | Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” |
For Christ is the fulfillment of the Law for the justification of all who believe. | For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. |
Welcome anyone whose faith is weak, but do not get into arguments about doubts. | Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. |
For it has been granted you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him. | For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. |
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and so too will your household.” | They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” |
As Scripture asserts, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” | As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” |
Therefore, while we have the opportunity, let us labor for the good of all, but especially for those members of the household of the faith. | Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. |